Flexible feed member for card-folding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A flexible feed member is formed with suction cups thereon along its entire outer surface for engaging paper stock, which is to be folded by a card-folding apparatus, to advance the paper. The flexible feed member is securely, though releasably, anchored to the feed roller of a conventional card-folding apparatus by a flexible connector member which spans the adjacent ends of the feed member for forming it into a continuous band. The flexible connector member is formed of a very high tensile strength material such as Mylar, for example.

United States Patent Inventor Francis E. Kohus Cincinnati, Ohio Appl. No. 859,745

Filed Sept. 22, 1969 Patented Dec. 21, 1971 Assignee Clarence S. Betz Cincinnati, Ohio in part interest FLEXIBLE FEED MEMBER FOR CARD-FOLDING APPARATUS 14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 270/61, 29/124 Int. Cl 1165!: 3/06 Field of Search 270/6 l 69; 271/4, 5, 27, 74; 226/7, 93, 95; 221/210, 211; 29/ 1 24 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,448,713 3/1923 Pool 271/27 1,568,047 1/1926 Bisey 226/95 X 2,428,953 10/1947 Adams 29/120 2,478,262 8/1949 Gay et al 29/120 X Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell AttorneyJ. Warren Kinney, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A flexible feed member is formed with suction cups thereon along its entire outer surface for engaging paper stock, which is to be folded by a card-folding apparatus. to advance the paper. The flexible feed member is securely, though releasably, anchored to the feed roller ofa conventional cardfolding apparatus by a flexible connector member which spans the adjacent ends of the feed member for forming it into a continuous band. The flexible connector member is formed of a very high tensile strength material such as Mylar, for example.

PATENTEDUECZHHTI 3.628784 INVENTO/P FRANCIS E. KOHUS ATTOR E FLEXIBLE FEED MEMBER FOR CARD-FOLDING APPARATUS In folding greeting cards and the like, it is necessary to advance the paper, which forms the cards, to various positions for folding and other operations. The conventional card-folding apparatus utilizes rollers or wheels having flexible bands mounted thereon for engagement with the paper.

The presently available feed bands have a flat, smooth outer surface, and, as a result thereof, slippage occurs between the band and the paper. Whenever slippage occurs, the paper is marked. As a result, any cards, which are formed of the marked paper, cannot be utilized, until and unless the marks are erased by hand labor.

Furthermore, the presently available bands are continuous endless bands. As a result, whenever one of these endless bands has to be replaced, it is necessary to remove the shaft, which supports the roller or wheel having the band thereon,

from its hearings to permit a new endless band to be mounted on the roller or wheel. This operation of removing the shaft from its bearings and returning it to the operating position results in approximately two hours "downtime of the cardfolding apparatus. Furthermore, since the band is endless, it is sometimes necessary to cut the used band to remove it from the wheel or roller because there is a very tight fit between the endless band and the wheel or roller after the endless band is slipped over the wheel or roller.

The present invention effectively overcomes the foregoing problems by providing a flexible member for use as a band for a card-folding apparatus in which there will be no slippage between the paper, which is folded by the card-folding apparatus to form the cards, and the member. The present invention solves this problem by forming a flexible member with suction cups on the outer surface thereof. These suction cups are formed so as to grip the paper tightly but not so as to damage it. Thus, this tight grip prevents any slippage between the band and the paper. Accordingly, there is no marking of the paper, which forms the cards, when employing the flexible member of the present invention as a band in the card-folding apparatus.

Additionally, the flexible member of the present invention eliminates any requirement for removal of the shaft for the wheel or roller of the card-folding apparatus from its bearings. In the present invention, a flexible connector member connects the adjacent free ends of the flexible member to each other to form a continuous band which circumscribes the wheel or roller. The flexible connector member is formed of a material of a very high tensile strength and higher than the tensile strength of the flexible member to insure that the adjacent free ends remain adjacent each other and connected to each other.

An object of this invention is to provide a flexible member for use as a band for a card-folding apparatus that does not mark the paper, which is folded by the card-folding apparatus to form the cards.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flexible member for a card-folding apparatus that may be easily mounted on a card-folding apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide a flexible member for a card-folding apparatus in which the free ends of the flexible member are positively but releasably connected to each other.

Other objects of this invention will be readily perceived from the following description, claims, and drawing.

The attached drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a feed wheel of a card-folding apparatus with a flexible member of the present invention associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the central portion of FIG. 1 and showing a flexible connector member securing the free ends of the flexible member to each other;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a flexible connector member embodying the teaching of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the removal of the protective cover strip from the flexible connector member of FIG. 5: and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the feed wheel of a card-folding apparatus having the flexible member disposed thereon and the flexible connector member in the process of being mounted thereon.

Referring to the drawing and particularly FIG. 7, there is shown a wheel or roller 10 of a conventional card-folding apparatus for folding sheets of paper into cards. The wheel or roller 10 is mounted on a shaft 12 for driving. The shaft 12 is supported in suitable bearings (not shown) and is adapted to be rotated to cause movement of the paper that is folded to form the cards.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the wheel or roller 10 has flanges I4 and 16 on opposite sides thereof to form a continuous groove 18 therebetween. A flexible member 20, which may be formed of any suitable flexible material that will not mark or damage paper such as urethane, neoprene or rubber, for example, is shown disposed within the groove 18.

The member 20 includes a substantially rectangular crosssectional portion 22, which is adapted to be disposed within the groove 18 in the wheel or roller 10. A plurality of suction members or cups 24 extends from the portion 22. Each of the cups 22 is disposed in close relation to the adjacent suction cups 24.

Each of the suction cups 24 includes a substantially cylindrical-shaped portion 26 (see FIG. 2) extending from the surface of the portion 22 and a circular shaped deformable or distortable flange 28 at the end of the cylindrical-shaped portion 26. The flange 28 has a larger diameter than the cylindrical shaped portion 26 of the suction cup 24.

A recess 30 formed in each of the suction cups 24 is surrounded by the flange 28. The presence of the flange 28 results in a relatively long life for the suction cup 24.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 7, the flexible member 20 has its opposite ends 32 and 34 abutting each other after the flexible member 20 has been wrapped around the wheel 10. One of the main objects of the present invention is directed to the simple, inexpensive, yet unbelievably efficient and effective means for securing the flexible member 20 to the wheel 10 so as to preclude any accidental or unintentional disassociation of the flexible member 20 from the wheel 10.

The means for connection the ends of the flexible member 20 to each other comprises a thin, flexible connector 36. The connector 36 includes a thin, flexible strip 38 which is formed of a material having a very high tensile strength and inherent resistance to tear. One suitable example of the material of the strip 38 is the polyester film sold under the trademark Mylar.

The thin flexible strip 38 has a strip 40 of adhesive secured to one side thereof for causing the connector 36 to adhere to the flexible member 20. A removable strip 42 of protective material is placed over the adhesive strip 40 to protect the adhesive to the strip 40 until it is to be applied to the flexible member 20.

The protective material of the strip 42 must be capable of adhering to the adhesive strip 40 and being removed therefrom without causing the material to remove the adhesive feature of the adhesive strip 40. One suitable example of the adhesive strip 40 and the protective material forming the strip 42 is sold by 3M Corporation under the name Mactap. Of course, any other suitable material may be employed.

The connector 36 has four openings 44 formed therein. Each of the four openings 44 extends through the strip 38 of high tensile strength, the adhesive strip 40, and the strip 42 of protective material as shown in FIG. 5.

The openings 44 are of a diameter substantially equal to but not less than the diameter of the cylindrical-shaped portion 26 and of a smaller diameter than the flange 28 of the suction cup 24. Thus, when the connector 36 is disposed over the two suction cups 24 adjacent the end 32 of the flexible member 20 and the two suction cups 24 adjacent the end 34 of the flexible member 20, the flanges 28 of the suction cups 24 must be distorted for the suction cups 24 to be received within the openings 44.

In mounting the flexible member 20 on the wheel 10, the strip 42 of protective material is removed from the adhesive strip 40 as shown in FIG. 6. Then, with the flexible member 20 disposed within the groove 18 in the wheel and the ends 32 and 34 abutting against each other, the connector 36 is moved downwardly so that the two suction cups 24 on the flexible member adjacent the end 32 are received within the two openings 44 on one end of the connector 36 and the two suction cups 24 on the flexible member 20 adjacent the end 34 are received within the other two openings 44 of the connector 36. The adhesive strip 40 is then urged into contact with the outer surface of the flexible member 20 to positively adhere the connector 36 to the flexible member 20.

Because the strip 38 has a very high tensile strength and a much higher tensile strength than the flexible member 20, the forces created by the tendency of the ends 32 and 34 of the flexible member 20 to separate from each other are negated due to the very high tensile strength of the strip 38. As a result, a unitary endless band is formed by the flexible connector 36 securing the ends 32 and 34 of the flexible member 20 to each other. Furthermore, by forming the connector 36 of a less width than the flexible member 20 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is no overhang of the connector 36 to provide any interference with movement of the cards.

With the flexible connector 36 disposed as shown in FIG. 3, the suction cups 24 on the flexible member 20 adjacent the end 32 exert a force to the left on the connector strip 38. Similarly, the suction cups 24 on the flexible member 20 adjacent the end 34 exert a force on the connector strip 38 to the right or the opposite direction from that exerted by the suction cups 24 adjacent the end 32 of the flexible member 20. Therefore, the flexible connector is subjected to appreciable tension so that it must have a very high tensile strength.

As shown in FIGS. l-3, the flexible connector 36 is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the flexible member 20 and away from the recesses in the suction cups 24. Thus, the connector 36 does not affect the effectiveness of the suction cups 24. 7

While the present invention has shown and described the flexible connector 38 as including an adhesive strip 40 to adhere the connector 36 to the flexible member 20, it should be understood that such is not a requisite for satisfactory operation of the connector. However, the adhesive strip 40 permits positive placement of the connector 36 on the flexible member 20.

When removing the flexible member 20 from the wheel 10, it is only necessary to remove the connector 36 by cutting it where ends 32 and 34 of member 20 abut. Thus, only a very short period of time is required to remove and replace one of the flexible members 20, and no dismantling of any of the card-folding apparatus is necessary.

An advantage of this invention is that flexible bands for a card-folding apparatus may be more quickly and economically replaced. Another advantage of this invention is that the flexible member, which forms the band of the card-folding apparatus, eliminates any marking of the paper, which is folded to form the cards, whereby there is no loss of cards due to marks thereon.

What is claimed is:

l. A feed band for use in a card-folding apparatus including: a flexible member for mounting on a wheel or the like of a card-folding apparatus to form a continuous band; suction least one suction cu ad'acent each of said free ends of said flexible member an brr grng said free ends to hold same adjacent each other to retain said flexible member on the wheel or the like of the card-folding apparatus.

2. A feed band according to-claim l in which said wheel or the like has a continuous annular groove therein having a base and opposed wall surfaces; and said flexible member comprising a strip having a base and opposite sidewall surfaces bearing against the base and opposed wall surfaces of said annular groove.

3. The feed band according to claim 1 including adhesive means on said connector means to adhere said connector means to said flexible member.

4. The feed band according to claim 3 in which said connector means has a very high tensile strength. 7

5. The feed band according to claim 1 in which said connector means has a very high tensile strength.

6. The feed band according to claim 1 in which:

said connector means includes a thin strip of relatively short length in comparison with the length of said flexible member;

and said strip having a very high tensile strength.

7. The feed band according to claim 1 in which said suction cups are arranged in a single row extending along the entire length of said flexible member.

8. The feed band according to claim 7 in which:

said connector means is a thin strip having a plurality of openings therein;

and at least each of said suction cups adjacent each end of said flexible member being disposed within one of said openings in said thin strip.

9. The feed band according to claim 8 in which said thin strip comprises a polyester film having a very high tensile strength.

10. The feed band according to claim 7 in which said connector means has a very high tensile strength.

11. The feed band according to claim 1 in which each of said suction cups comprises: a substantially cylindrical portion extending from the outer surface of said member; a recess formed in said cylindrical portion for cooperation with the paper to be folded to create a suction therebetween; each of said cylindrical portions having a circular external flange at its outer end; each flange having a greater diameter than the diameter of each said cylindrical portion and surrounding each said recess, and said connector means engaging the cylindrical portions of said at least one suction cup adjacent each of said free ends of said flexible member.

12. The feed band according to claim 11 in which: said connector means is a thin strip having a plurality of openings therein; each of said openings of said thin strip having a diameter not less than the diameter of said cylindrical portions of said suction cups and smaller than the diameter of said flanges of said suction cups, said at least one of said suction cups adjacent each free end of said flexible member being disposed within one of the openings in said strip; and said flanges of said suction cups being deformable to allow said openings to pass thereover and flt around the associated cylindrical portions.

13. The free hand according to claim 12 in which said thin strip comprises a polyester film of very high tensile strength.

14. The feed band according to claim 13 and said film having adhesive thereon so that said film can be adhered to said flexible member.

t t a 

1. A feed band for use in a card-folding apparatus including: a flexible member for mounting on a wheel or the like of a cardfolding apparatus to form a continuous band; suction cups disposed on and protruding from the outer surface of said flexible member for cooperation with paper to be folded to create a suction therebetween; said flexible member having free ends; and connector means cooperatively engaging at least one suction cup adjacent each of said free ends of said flexible member and bridging said free ends to hold same adjacent each other to retain said flexible member on the wheel or the like of the cardfolding apparatus.
 2. A feed band according to claim 1 in which said wheel or the like has a continuous annular groove therein having a base and opposed wall surfaces; and said flexible member comprising a strip having a base and opposite sidewall surfaces bearing against the base and opposed wall surfaces of said annular groove.
 3. The feed band according to claim 1 including adhesive means on said connector means to adhere said connector means to said flexible member.
 4. The feed band according to claim 3 in which said connector means has a very high tensile strength.
 5. The feed band according to claim 1 in which said connector means has a very high tensile strength.
 6. The feed band according to claim 1 in which: said connector means includes a thin strip of relatively short length in comparison with the length of said flexible member; and said strip having a very high tensile strength.
 7. The feed band according to claim 1 in which said suction cups are arranged in a single row extending along the entire length of said flexible member.
 8. The feed band according to claim 7 in which: said connector means is a thin strip having a plurality of openings therein; and at least each of said suction cups adjacent each end of said flexible member being disposed within one of said openings in said thin strip.
 9. The feed band according to claim 8 in which said thin strip comprises a polyester film having a very high tensile strength.
 10. The feed band according to claim 7 in which said connector means has a very high tensile strength.
 11. The feed band according to claim 1 in which each of said suction cups comprises: a substantially cylindrical portion extending from the outer surface of said member; a recess formed in said cylindrical portion for cooperation with the paper to be folded to create a suction therebetween; each of said cylindrical portions having a circular external flange at its outer end; each flange having a greater diameter than the diameter of each said cylindrical portion and surrounding each said recess, and said connector means engaging the cylindrical portions of said at least one suction cup adjacent each of said free ends of said flexible member.
 12. The feed band according to claim 11 in which: said connector means is a thin strip having a plurality of openings therein; each of said openings of said thin strip having a diameter not less than the diameter of said cylindrical portions of said suction cups and smaller than the diameter of said fLanges of said suction cups, said at least one of said suction cups adjacent each free end of said flexible member being disposed within one of the openings in said strip; and said flanges of said suction cups being deformable to allow said openings to pass thereover and fit around the associated cylindrical portions.
 13. The free band according to claim 12 in which said thin strip comprises a polyester film of very high tensile strength.
 14. The feed band according to claim 13 and said film having adhesive thereon so that said film can be adhered to said flexible member. 